There are many designs that can reduce the amount Front ... · tions about modifying their front...
Transcript of There are many designs that can reduce the amount Front ... · tions about modifying their front...
Development Services Department 156 S. Broadway, Ste 120
Turlock, California 95380
Development Services
Department
Planning Division
Planning Division
Front Yard
Landscaping &
Paving
There are many designs that can reduce the amount
of thirsty turf-grass and include less water intensive
plants while still providing an attractive front yard
landscape. Your local nursery is a good starting
point to inquire about native, drought tolerant plants
and how to use them in your landscaping.
Other Useful Resources
City of Turlock Municipal Services
(www.ci.turlock.ca.us/citydepartments/
municipalservices/gogreen)
Sunset Western Garden Book
(www.sunsetbooks.com)
EPA Watersense (www.epa.gov/watersense/
watersavingyard/index.html)
California Native Plant Society
(www.cnps.org/cnps/grownative)
Phone: 209-668-5640
Fax: 209-668-5107
Website: www.cityofturlock.org
Email: [email protected]
As we all know California is in the 4th year of a
severe drought. In California, about half of the
urban water is used for landscape irrigation. To
comply with the Governor’s Executive Order,
the City of Turlock must reduce water use by
32%. Many residents are interested in reduc-
ing their water use and have contacted the
Development Services Department to ask ques-
tions about modifying their front yard land-
scaping and paving.
This brochure is intended to provide homeown-
ers with guidelines and resources if they want
to modify their front yard landscaping.
FAQs
California’s Drought
1. Do I have to plant grass in my front
yard? The City does not require that
your front yard be lawn. In fact, the City
would prefer that homeowners choose
drought tolerant landscapes as an alter-
native to lawns.
2. What do you mean by drought tol-
erant landscapes? Drought tolerance
refers to plants that are naturally
adapted to arid, dry conditions and once
established require minimal watering.
Most drought tolerant plants are what
are considered native plants in a particular region.
They are the plants, shrubs, and trees that were here
long before settlers came with other plants and gar-
den hoses. You may have heard terms such as xeri-
scaping, water-wise, dry landscaping or dry gardening
all of which refer to using drought tolerant plants in
your landscaping. A combination of materials can be
used to produce an attractive waterwise front yard.
Like this...
OR THIS
3. Can’t I just concrete my front yard?
While the City Code does not require that
you have lawn in your front yard, there are
limitations on how much paving you can
have in your front yard.
The driveway cannot be wider than 30-feet.
The driveway approach cannot occupy
more than 40% of the property frontage.
The paved area cannot occupy more than
55% of the total area of the front yard.
Review and approval by the Planning Divi-
sion prior to the work being done is re-quired.
YOU CAN’T DO THIS!
BUT THIS IS OK